Side flap folding means for envelope machines



April 26, 1932. A. NOVICK 1,855,842

SIDE FLAP FOLDING MEANS FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed May 19, 19:50 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Abra/7am Nov/ck.

A TTORNE Y5 April 26, 1932. A. NOVICK 1,855,842

SIDE FLAP FOLDING MEANS FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Fi led May 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q I Q .1 Q Q Q I I\ w b k R a a E k N g Q l w INVENTOR Abra/mm /Va /c/r. BY

' ATTORNEYS A ril 26, 1932.

A. NOVICK SIDE FLAP FOLDING MEANS FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed May 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABRAHAM NOVICK, or FLUSHING, NEW YORK, AssrGNon To 1*. L. SMITHE MACHINE 00., INC., on NEW YORK, N. Y., A coRroRA'rIon or new YORK SIDE FLA]? FOLDING MEANS FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Application filed May 19,

T envelope body and have the flaps folded around them and stationary folding plates formed to turn the flaps progressively through two right angles around the forming blades as the blank advances. Where Tf folding plates of the character referred to are employed, the folding of the flaps through the first quadrant may be effected with uniform success. When folding them through the second quadrant, however, the frictional {i0 resistance to blank feeding is caused to increase greatly, with the result that envelope blanks sometimes slip, or are torn the feeding or foldingmechanism, and become misplaced or jammed so that it becomes neces-V sary to stop the machine and clear it of obstructing matter before the operation may again proceed normally. 7

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide folding elements for folding the envelope flaps through the second quadrant, that is, form their upright positions over against the body portion of the blank which are adapted to advance with the work and to assist rather than hinder the feeding forward of the blank.

It is a further feature of the invention to so contrive the folding elements referred to that the work engaging portions thereof move continuously in the direction of blank feeding, and hence do not necessitate intermittent feeding of the blanks or the provision of long open spaces between successive blanks.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

1930. Serial No. 453,436.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fragment of an envelope making machine embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view through the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an end view of one of the folding plates employed for turning an envelope flap from horizontal to upright position Figure 4 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 1- of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a sectional, detail view of the mechanism employed for turning envelope flaps throughthe second quadrant, the section being taken on the line 55 of F igure'6 Figure 6 is a fragmentary, plan View showmg{ a portion of the mechanism of Figure 5; an

Figure 7 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6,lookingin the direction of the arrows.

folding in of the sid-eflaps, and accordingly the mechanism for performing other operations on the blanks, such as cutting, and gumming, are not illustrated. It will be under- .The timing mechanism is not, therefore, il-

lustrated herein.

The machine comprises a frame 1 includlng upright members 2, longitudinal horizontal The present invention has to do with the stood, however, that the illustrated mechmembers 3, and suitable cross connecting members. A plate 4 mounted on the frame forms a blank supporting table. The direction of blank feed is indicated by arrows in Figures 1 and 2, while the direction of rotation of a lower pair of feed rollers is indicated by an arrow in Figure 4.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the envelope blanks pass between rollers or scoring devices 5 and 6, and thence toward the left along the table 4, as viewed in Figure 2. The blanks are fed by successive pairs of feed rollers situated beneath the table and having short arcs of their peripheries eXtending through and above the table in position to engage the work. At various points provision is made of opposed rollers above the table to coact with a pair of rollers below the table, the upper rollers being close enough together so that positive feeding of the blanks at all times is assured. There are shown lower feed rollers 7, 8, 9, and 10. Upper opposed feed rollers 11 coact with the feed rollers 8, While upper opposed feed rollers 12 coact with the lower feed rollers 10.

' Above the group of rollers 7 provision is made of a transversely extending bar 13 which is supported at its ends from the machine frame. This bar is provided with a channel 14 in which brackets 15 are dovetailed. The brackets 15 carry forming blades 16 and may be adjusted along the bar 13 to locate the forming blades properly for coacting with blanks of different widths. The brackets 15 may be secured in adjusted position by set screws 17. The forming blades 16 extend closely adjacent the table and substantially parallel to it throughout the major portion of their lengths. Their right hand ends 18, however, are inclined upward to provide a flared mouth for receiving the blanks. Rollers 7a may cooperate with rollers 7 said rollers 7 a being supported in a frame 7 b suitably supported on the bar 13. Brackets 19 are also dovetailed in the bar 13 and are adjustably mounted thereon, being adapted to be retained in adjusted positions by set screws 20. These brackets include forwardly eX- tending arms 21 and downwardly and inwardly extending arms 22, and the latter arms carry folding plates 23 adjacent the forming blades 16. Each folding plate has its receiving end 24 set into a recess 25 of the table, so that there will be no possibility of an envelope flap passing beneath it. Comparison of the ends 18 and 24 of the forming blades 16 and the folding plates 23 plainly shows that the blanks will necessarily pass beneath the forming blades but above the folding plates. The folding plates are substantially horizontal at their receiving ends, but substantially vertical at their discharge ends, the change being gradual from end to end. As the blank 26 is advanced, therefore, beneath the forming blades and above the folding plates, the side flaps 27 are turned from horizontal to upright positions. The folding plates are not, however, designed or int-ended to continue the folding in of the flaps against the body portion of the blank.

Beyond the ends of the folding plates provision is made of folding belts 28 adapted to effect the further folding of the flaps. The work engaging stretches of the belts travel continuously in the direction of blank feed, while the rear ends of the belts are reciprocated in timed relation to the feeding of the blanks to carry them inward intermittently. The belt folders 28 and the supporting and operating means for said folders are duplicates, and hence a description of one of them will suffice for both.

Each of these devices comprises a bearing bracket 29 mounted on the frame and a supporting bar 30 carried by said bracket. Each folder unit comprises a bracket 31 which embraces the supporting bar 30 and which, in cooperation with a housing member 32 forms a housing for certain gearing about to be described. The bracket 31 may be adjusted along the supporting bar 30 and may be secured in a desired position of adjustment by a clamping bolt 33. The housing formed by the members 31, 32 is provided with external cylindrical bearings at the upper and lower ends thereof for pivotally supporting a swing frame 34. This swing frame is in the form of a yoke having upper and lower arms and 36. The arms 35 and 36 form half bearings and are clamped to semi-circular bearing members 37 and 38 to embrace the housing 31, 32. The yoke includes an extension arm 39 for carrying a pulley 40 on which the belt 28 runs. The opposite end of the belt 28 runs upon a driven pulley 41 carried by the lower end of a shaft 42 that ex tends axially through the casing 31, 32. The shaft 42 is mounted at the upper end thereof in a ball bearing 43 and at the lower end in a ball bearing 44 supported between thrust bearings 45 and 46. The shaft 42 has fast thereon a. bevel pinion 47 which meshes with a bevel pinion 48 on a shaft 49. The shaft 49 is supported in a ball bearing 50 which is carried by the bracket and housing member 31 between thrust bearings 51 and 52. The shaft 49 extends from the housing 31, 32 to and beyond the edge of the frame of the machine. being supported in the bearing bracket 29. The shaft 49 has a pinion 53 fast upon it which is adapted to be driven through a train of gearing comprising a gear 54 fast on a stub shaft 55, a gear 56, a bevel gear 57, and a bevel gear 58, the last named gear being fast upon a shaft 59 which is suitably geared to the main shaft of the machine. The gears 56 and 57 are fast upon a shaft 60.

It will be'seen from the description up to this point that provision is made for driving the belt 28 from the main shaft of the ma- '49 so that the wiper unit may be adjusted bodily. The hub of gear 53 is held to shaft 49 by a set screw 61. When it is desired to adjust the belt unit in either direction upon the bar 30, the set screw 61 is loosened, and the desired adjustment is made, the bracket 31 being then secured against shifting. After the bracket has been thus secured, the gear 53 is secured in the position shown in the drawings by tightening the set screw to again bind it to the shaft 49.

Provision is made of means for oscillating the swing frame 34 about the bearingsformed by the housing 31, 32 so as to carrythe rear ends of the belts transversely across the work for wiping in the flaps against the forming blades 16. To this end a rock shaft 62 is provided with cranks 63 and 64. The crank 64 has a slot 65 therein and is adaptedto be oscillated by a thrust rod 66 which is reciprocated endwise by suitable cam mechanism operated from the main shaft of the machine. The thrust rod 66 carries a pin 67 which extends through the slot 65 and is adapted to be adjusted along it. The pin 67 is pivoted in the end of the thrust rod 66 and is adapted to be clamped in any-desired position upon the crank 64 by clamping plates 68 and 69 and a clamping nut 7 O threaded on the pin. The crank 68 is connected through a universal joint 71 to a connecting rod 7 2, and this rod in turn is connected through a universal joint 73 with the lower arm of a lever 74. The lever 74 is pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a frame bracket 75 and a bearing pin 76. The lower arm of the lever 74 is urged downward by a spring 77 connected to such arm and to the frame. The upper arm of the lever 74 is connected through a universal joint 78' to a thrust rod 7 9, the joint 78 comprising a block 80 and a pivot bolt 81 adapted to be clamped in various positions of adjustment along a slot 82 of the rod 79. The inner end of the rod 79 is connected through a universal joint 83 with an ear 84 on the arm 39 of the swing frame 34. V 7

As a result of the described train of mechanism the thrust rod 66 which is moved upward positively and is urged downward by the springs 77 connected to the levers 74 acts in its upward'movement to swing the swing frames 34 outward to a position like that shown in Figure 1. When the operating beneath pressing bars 95.

cam of thrust rod 66 permits the rod to move downward, however, the springs 77 pull down onthe lower ends of levers 74 and cause the levers to move the swing frames '7 inward, and thereby carry the work engaging stretches of the belts inward across the side folds of the envelope blank to iron the flaps down. Adjustment of the extent of oscillation of the belt folders may be effected by adjustment of the effective length of crank 64, while adjustment to correspond to various positions of adjustment of the belt wiper may be effected by shifting the point of connection of lever 74 to thrust rod 79.

It is important that the belts 28 be kept rather taut, and to this end provision is made for mounting the pulley 40 with capacity for adjustment toward and from the pulley 41. The pulley 40 is not a driving pulley, but is itselfdriven by the belt 28; The pulley is hollow and is carried by a ball bearing 85 supported by a thrust bearing plate 86 carried at the lower end of a screw 87. The screw 87 is in turn supported in a sleeve 88 and extends completely through it. The sleeve 88 is internally threaded to cooperate with the threads of screw 87 and is externally threaded to cooperate with the threads of a nut 89. The sleeve 88 is mounted in a slot 90 formed in the arm 39 of swing frame 34. A flange 91 at the lower end of the sleeve spans the slot 90 and engages the lower face of the arm 39, while a clamping plate 92, im paled on the sleeve just below the. nut 89,

spans the slot 90 and engages the upper face of the arm '39. Tightening of the nut 89 is, therefore, effective to cause the arm 39 to be securely clamped between the clamping plate 92 and the'flange 91., The sleeve 88, together with a. pulley carried by it, may be adjusted longitudinally of the slot 90, that is, toward and from the pulley 41, by loosening the nut 89 making the desired adjustment, and again tightening the nut 89 to clamp the parts in the new position.

The screw 89 which forms the direct support for pulley 40 has a screw driver slot 93 in the upper end thereof whereby the screw may be vertically adjusted in the sleeve to raise or lower the pulley 40. 'Provision is made of a lock nut 94 for securely retaining the screw in adjusted position when. the pulley has been located at the desired elevation.

The belts always move inward at a time tation to carry the blank engaging stretches in the direction of blank feeding is, however, continuous.

After a blank has had its side flaps folded inward in the manner described, it is passed These pressing bars are adjustably mounted upon a cross bar 96 supported by the machine frame, having their ends formed to embrace such cross bar and to be secured in adjusted positions by set screws 97 There are three of these pressing bars employed, and they extend parallel to the table and very close to it, and in position to press the envelope blank against the feed rollers 8 and 9. One of the presser bars 95 is arranged to engage the middle of the blank, while the other two are arranged to engage the side edges of the blank to crease them.

After the blanks have passed the presser bars 95 they are conducted to other instrumentalities for completing the manufacture of them into finished envelopes.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiment shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an envelope machine, the combination with means for feeding a blank, of a former, and a side flap folder standing edgewise over the former and movable with the blank.

2. In an envelope machine, the combination with means for feeding a blank continu ously, of a side flap folder movable continuously in the direction of blank feeding, and means for reciprocating the folder transversely of the direction of blank feeding.

3. In an envelope machine, a former and side flap folder comprising a driven belt having a blank engaging stretch thereof standing edgewise over the former and driven in the direction of blank feeding.

4. In an envelope machine, in combination, blank feeding means, forming means, side flap folding plates cooperating with the forming means to turn the side flaps from extended to substantially upright positions, and traveling folders running substantially in unison with the blank feeding means and cooperating with the forming means in folding the side flaps inward from substantially upright positions.

i 5. In an envelope machine, mechanism for folding the extending side flaps of a blank through two quadrants, comprising blank feeding means, forming means, stationary plate folders cooperative with the forming means to fold the flaps through the first quadrant, and transversely reciprocating folders running continuously substantially in unison wvith the blank feeding means, and cooperative with the forming means to fold the flaps through the second quadrant.

6. In an envelope machine. mechanism for folding the extendingside flaps of a blank through two quadrants, comprising blank feeding means, forming means, stationary late folders coo erative with the formin means to fold the fiaps through the first quadrant, and folders advanceable substantially in unison with the work and also movable with and across the work to fold the flaps through the second quadrant.

7. In an envelope machine, mechanism for folding the extending side flaps of a blank through two quadrants, comprising blank feeding means, forming means, stationary plate folders cooperative with the forming means to fold the flaps through the first quadrant, transversely reciprocating folders running continuously substantially in unison with the blank feeding means, and cooperative with the forming means'to fold the flaps through the second quadrant, and means for effecting concurrent adjustments, transversely of the direction of blank feeding, of the forming means, the plate folders and the reciprocating folders.

8. In an envelope machine, mechanism for folding the extending side flaps of a blank through two quadrants, comprising blank feeding means, forming means, stationary plate folders cooperative with the forming means to fold the flaps through the first quadrant, reciprocating folders cooperative with the forming means to fold the flaps through the second quadrant, means for adjusting the reciprocating folders transversely of the direction of blank feeding, and means for adjusting the magnitude of the reciprocations of said folders.

9. In an envelope machine, a former, a side flap folder comprising a driven belt having a blank engaging stretch thereof standing edgewise over the former and driven in the direction of blank feeding, and means for adjusting the tension of the belt.

10. In an envelope machine, a former, a side flap folder comprising a driven belt having a blank engaging stretch thereof standing edgewise over the former and driven in the direction of blank feeding, and means for adjusting the inclination of the belt.

11. In an envelope machine, a side flap folder comprising a driven belt having a blank engaging stretch thereof driven in the direction of blank feeding, and means for reciprocating the belt transversely of the direction of blank feeding, comprising means for positively moving the belt outward, and means for yieldingly moving the belt inward across the work.

12. In an envelope machine, a side flap folder com-prising a driven belt having a blank engaging stretch thereof driven in the direction of blank feeding, and means for reciprocating the belt transversely of the direction of blank feeding, comprising means moving the belt inward when a flap is in position to be folded, and moving the belt outward when no flap is present.

13. In an envelope machine, a side flap folder comprising a belt, a pair of pulleys supporting the belt, means for driving the belt through the pulleys, a swing frame supporting the pulleys, and means for oscillating the swing frame.

14. In an envelope machine, a. side flap folder comprising a belt, a pair of pulleys supporting the belt, means for driving the belt through one of the pulleys, a swing frame supporting the pulleys, and means for oscillating the swing frame about the axis of the driving pulley.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

ABRAHAM NOVICK. 

